William j



(No Model.)

W. J. GORDLEY.

PIANO CASE.

Patented May 2, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J; CORDLEY, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF 'TO WALTER D. MOSES.

, PIANO-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 496,553, dated May 2, 1893.

. Application filed January 9,1893. Serial No. 457,781. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. CORDLEY, of Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new ing drawings, forming a part of this specifi cation, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

In the handling and shipping of modern pianos, especially upright pianos, the dealers experience great annoyance from the marring, scratching or injuring of the protecting part of the frame on the front side known as the plinth molding. This molding located just below the keyboard and key slip orlockboard, occupies a prominent position, and naturally efiorts are made to give it ahighly ornamental and finished appearance, such efiorts usually resulting in a molding ornamentation extending in unbroken lines from one end to the other of the piano case and upon which the slightest indentation or scratch shows and at once catches the eye because of the break caused thereby in the continuity of the ornamentation, and because of the prominence of the plinth molding and its proximity to the key board to which the eye of an observer naturally wandersinlookping at the instrument. Experience has shown that a large percentage of the profits are consumed in repairing injury to this part of the instrument, for buyers will not acceptinstruments in which this part has been injured in the slightest degree, frequently necessitating the return of the piano to the shop or manufacturer, and in any instance, even when the injury can be repaired without dismemboring the case, it calls for the best efforts of molding as ornamental as desired without running the risk of having the same irreparably injured in delivering the piano or moving or shipping the same.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of an upright piano showing the plinth molding. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section in outline showing the application of the invention. Figs..3 and 4, are detail sections showing modifications.

Like letters of reference in the several fig- 6o ures denote the same parts.

It is unnecessary for me to describe the construction of the main upright portion of the case, lettered A in the drawings, nor the operating mechanism within the case, as such parts form no part of my present invention. The key board 13 in this, as well as other styles of piano, projects to the front of the upright portion of the main case and has an open space beneath for the performers knees. The keys, or key board as I shall term them, are mounted upon what is known as the keyframe 0, removably held within the frame upon the key-framebottom D by suitable fastenings, and thekey-slip or lock-board E covers the end of the frame. As ordinarily constructed, the key-frame-bottom D is formed of a heavy board connected with the main casing and in upright pianos supported by the arms F and legs G. At the front edge, this key-frame-bottom is ordinarily formed into the plinth molding H, or where the board is of diiferent material from the outside of the case, a veneer, or strip is glued permanently to the edge of the key-framebottom becoming a fixed part of the said bottom and the molded surface is formed on this strip. Now for the reasons before pointed out, I propose to make the front edge of this key-frame-bottom removable, and preferably reversible, and by forming this removable section or strip into the plinth molding, it may be easily removed when damaged and returned to the factory, or when reversible, reversed to present a new face. So too, the reversible feature allows one side to be made highly ornamental and finished, while the other side is plain, then,wl 1en the instrument is shipped or moved, the plain side is turned out and the strip reversed after the instrument is inplace.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the plinth molding H is smooth and transversely convex on both sides while the edge of the key frame bottom is correspondingly concave The usual screws I pass up through the molding into the lock board E;

and to hold the molding rigidly in place, I

preferably pass the screws through metallic clips or strips K secured-to the under side of the key-frame-bottom by screws or otherwise.

This method of fastening holds the molding rigidly in place without exposing the fastenings to view and at the same time allows the lock-board and key-frame to be secured in place with screws in the ordinary mannner.

The plinth molding may be of any desired cross-sectional contour, for instance as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and the edge of the key-- frame-bottom correspondingly formed to afford a seat therefor. If desired also pads L of leather or felt may be interposed to protect the'surfaoe of the molding and when these eeasss 3. In a piano case, the combination with the key frame bottom, of the reversible plinth molding detachably secured to its edge; sub-.

stantially as described.

4. Ina piano case, the combination with the key frame bottom havingits edge molded to conform approximately to the contour of the plinth molding, of the plinth molding fitting said edge of the key frame bottom and detachably secured thereto; substantially as described.

5. In a piano case, the combination with the key frame bottom, of the detachable and reversible plinth molding and the padsinterposed between said molding and key frame bot-tom; substantially as described.

6. In a piano case, the combination with the key frame bottom, the key frame and the key slip or lock-board, of the independent plinth molding the screws passing up through the plinth molding into the key slip or lockboard and the metal clips uniting the bottom of the molding and key frame bottom; substantially as described. g

WILLIAM J. CORDLEY.

Witnesses:

J. 'P. MORRIS, C. A. RAwsoN. 

